Open Conceptual Design of a Multi-Mission Tactical Quadcopter Using COTS Components

Authors

  • Ressa Octavianty International University Liaison Indonesia
  • Fulki Shah Jahan
  • Triwanto Simanjuntak

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3849/aimt.02011

Keywords:

loitering munition, COTS components, multi-mission UAV

Abstract

This paper presents an open conceptual design of a multi-mission tactical quadcopter addressing payload limitations in existing commercial loitering munitions. Using Components-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components, the design achieves 400–600 g payload capacity – a 120 % increase over commercial alternatives – enabling compatibility with standard military ordnance such as the Indonesian GT5-PEA2 defensive grenade (430 g). The modular design supports three mission profiles: ISR, payload delivery, and kamikaze operations, with a foldable configuration stowing within 180 mm for infantry portability. The ISR configuration achieves 30 min endurance and 6 790 m range. Unit production cost of 774 USD represents a 68% reduction versus commercial alternatives. Complete design documentation is publicly available to accelerate collaborative development.

References

TELLER, J. Regulating Urban Densification: What Factors Should Be Used? Buildings and Cities, 2021, 2(1), pp. 302-317. https://doi.org/10.5334/bc.123.

SPENCER, J. and J. GEROUX. Defending the City: An Overview of Defensive Tactics from the Modern History of Urban Warfare [online]. 2022 [viewed 2026-03-08]. Available from: https://mwi.westpoint.edu/defending-the-city-an-overview-of-defensive-tactics-from-the-modern-history-of-urban-warfare/

GLENN, R.W. Combat in Hell: A Consideration of Constrained Urban Warfare [online]. 2002 [viewed 2026-03-08]. Available from: https://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR780.html

VAUTRAVERS, A. Military Operations in Urban Areas. International Review of the Red Cross, 2010, 92(878), pp. 437-452. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1816383110000366.

Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain (MOUT). 2018 [online]. [viewed 2026-03-08]. Available from: https://www.marines.mil/News/Publications/MCPEL/Electronic-Library-Display/Article/900535/mcrp-12-10b1/

VALAVANIS, K.P. and G.J. VACHTSEVANOS. Handbook of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Dordrecht: Springer, 2014. ISBN 90-481-9706-6.

BODE, I. and T.F.A. WATTS. Loitering Munitions and Unpredictability: Au-tonomy in Weapon Systems and Challenges to Human Control [online]. 2023 [viewed 2026-03-08]. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8379571.

VOSKUIJL, M. Performance Analysis and Design of Loitering Munitions: A Comprehensive Technical Survey of Recent Developments. Defence Tech-nology, 2022, 18(3), pp. 325-343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dt.2021.08.010.

ZHUGAN, O. and M.O. DEGTYAREV. Version of Loitering Munitions Classi-fication Based on the State-of-the-Art and Trends Analysis. Space Science and Technology, 2024, 30(3), pp. 31-39. https://doi.org/10.15407/knit2024.03.031.

FM 21-18 Foot Marches [online]. 1990 [viewed 2026-03-08]. Available from: https://archive.org/details/milmanual-fm-21-18-foot-marches

LOVERRO, K.L., L. HASSELQUIST and C.L. LEWIS. Females and Males Use Different Hip and Knee Mechanics in Response to Symmetric Military-Relevant Loads. Journal of Biomechanics, 2019, 95, 109280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2019.07.024.

KNAPIK, J.J., K.L. REYNOLDS and E. HARMAN. Soldier Load Carriage: His-torical, Physiological, Biomechanical, and Medical Aspects. Military Medicine, 2004, 169(1), pp. 45-56. https://doi.org/10.7205/milmed.169.1.45.

GT5-PEA2 Defensive Hand Grenade [online]. [viewed 2026-03-08]. Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20260207035529/https:// pindad.com/gt5-pea2

VU, N.A., D.K. DANG and T.L. DINH. Electric Propulsion System Sizing Meth-odology for an Agriculture Multicopter. Aerospace Science and Technology, 2019, 90, pp. 314-326. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ast.2019.04.044.

BICZYSKI, M., R. SEHAB, J.F. WHIDBORNE, G. KREBS and P. LUK. Multi-rotor Sizing Methodology with Flight Time Estimation. Journal of Advanced Transportation, 2020, 2020, 9689604. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/9689604.

AUSTIN, R. Unmanned Aircraft Systems: UAVs Design, Development and De-ployment. Chichester: Wiley, 2010. ISBN 0-470-05819-6.

GAO, W., et al. The Status, Challenges, and Future of Additive Manufacturing in Engineering. Computer-Aided Design, 2015, 69, pp. 65-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cad.2015.04.001.

NICOLAI, L.M. and G.E. CARICHNER. Fundamentals of Aircraft and Airship Design: Volume I – Aircraft Design. Reston: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2010. ISBN 1-60086-753-7.

Consumer Drone Comparison [online]. 2025 [viewed 2026-03-08]. Available from: https://www.dji.com/products/comparison-consumer-drones

SEDDON, J.M. and S. NEWMAN. Basic Helicopter Aerodynamics. 3rd ed. Chichester: Wiley, 2011. ISBN 0-470-66537-8.

eCalc – xcopterCalc – the Most Reliable Multicopter Calculator on the Web [online]. [viewed 2026-03-08]. Available from: https://www.ecalc.ch/xcoptercalc.php

LEISHMAN, J.G. Principles of Helicopter Aerodynamics. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. ISBN 978-0-521-85860-1.

GALUSHKIN, N., N. YAZVINSKAYA and D. GALUSHKIN. A Critical Review of Using the Peukert Equation and its Generalizations for Lithium-Ion Cells. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 2020, 167(12), 120516. https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/abad69.

CAI, X., S.K.H. WIN and S. FOONG. QuadRotary: Design and Control of In-Flight Transition Between Quadcopter and Rotary-Wing. IEEE/ASME Transac-tions on Mechatronics, 2025, 30(6), pp. 5376-5386. https://doi.org/10.1109/TMECH.

2025.3556021.

Downloads

Published

19-04-2026

Issue

Section

Case study

Categories

How to Cite

Octavianty, R., Jahan, F. S., & Simanjuntak, T. (2026). Open Conceptual Design of a Multi-Mission Tactical Quadcopter Using COTS Components. Advances in Military Technology, 21(1), 247-261. https://doi.org/10.3849/aimt.02011

Similar Articles

1-10 of 307

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.